Famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright designed homes in 1917 for an exclusive subdivision in Beverly, Chicago. One of these homes was built for H. Howard Hyde, a cashier at International Harvester.
The owners of the H. Howard Hyde House are John and Martie Brennan. Built in 1917, the relic is considered as one of two American System-Built Houses, according to the DNA Info news. In 1994, the house was designated as a Chicago landmark.
According to a report by the Chicago Tribune, the 2,400-square-foot home began as plan M202, an L-shaped model. It has three bedrooms and three full baths. Additions were made in 1927, bumping out the kitchen to fill in the "L" and building a fourth bedroom upstairs.
It was on July 10, 2015 when Chicago Mag first reported that the H. Howard Hyde House was listed for sale for $750,000.
Measuring 2,448-square-foot in total, the house has floating rooflines with dramatic overhangs. The house also consists of broad porches, art glass windows and a landscaped lawn.
Sellers John and Martie Brennan purchased the property in 1999 for $218,000. They have spent more than a quarter million in restoring the home and bringing back its original condition and landmark status. The Chicago Mag quotes John Brennan as saying, "Our goal was to restore, but also to make the home very personal and livable for us and our kids."
The changes made in the house were significant. A new kitchen was built, eight layers of paint were stripped from the walls, and the oak floor was restored its original luster. A birch trim was also added in accordance to the sketches of Wright. The basement was transformed into a living space, along with the installation of a third private entrance in the rear of the house.
Listing agent Joseph Thouvenell of P.R.S. Associates said that, "The lion's share of the work was in restoring and accenting the woodwork." The Brennan's are asking for more than three times the original amount when they bought the property, as the house is now in such solid shape. However, it is also considered as the highest priced per-square-foot in the neighborhood, according to Chicago Mag.
The latest report by Chicago Curbed reveals that the price for the fully renovated H. Howard Hyde House has been lowered to $649,900, down a $100k from the initial asking price of $749,900. At this rate, the property still ranked third place for the priciest homes in the neighborhood. But a hundred thousand is still a whole lot of savings for potential buyers.